95 percent of the world's ATMs still run Windows XP

It’s interesting just how many of the world’s important computers still run on ancient software. Case in point – roughly 95 percent of automated teller machines around the globe are powered by Windows XP, an operating system that was released more than 12 years ago.

Considering the fact that Microsoft is set to discontinue support for the aging OS in just a few months, ATMs will need to be updated to a newer operating system in order to avoid security and compliance risks.

According to NCR, the largest supplier of ATMs in the US, most of the 420,000 units operating in the US run the full version of XP. Some use an embedded version that will see support through 2016 but either way you look at it, the industry has been slow to react to XP’s fast-approaching fate.

It should come as little surprise that most machines will eventually move to Windows 7 but don’t expect it to happen soon. According to ATM software firm KAL, only 15 percent of machines in the US will be running Windows 7 by the April 8 cutoff date for XP support.

It’s clear that others will need more time to migrate to a newer operating system and fortunately, there’s an answer. Companies can purchase custom support contracts through Microsoft to keep XP on life support for a bit longer. JPMorgan is reportedly doing just this with a one-year extension as they continue to deploy their Windows 7 solution.